Hi David, it's due out March 2008, I believe. That's what it says on amazon anyhow! Will be a Penguin paperback. Unbelievable!

And hi Paul. Haha! No it's the indefinite article both sides of the pond. In fact, the US editor didn't want to make any edits to the UK text. They're using the same cover too, I believe. I have had sight of the cover, but it's still under wraps. Not sure when I will be allowed to share it.

Thanks for the congrats. I don't know if I mentioned the book specifically. I had a two book deal with Faber and Penguin (and a couple of other publishers, Droemer in Germany, for example). The second book had to be delivered to Faber a year after the publication of the first, so it was quite an intense period. Never written a novel to a deadline, under contract, before, so the pressures were enormous. As to finding the time, somehow the thing got written. My family still seem to be talking to me as well.

i just wanted to tell you how much i enjoyed reading a gentle axe. i was very impressed with how you kept all the balls in the air; the culture the era the mystery. wonderful book. loved every minute of it and looking forward to the next one.